Religious film playing in Wheeling about church women who became priests

OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. (WTRF) –

Fifty years ago, women were not allowed to become priests in the Episcopal Church.

But eleven women accomplished it anyway, ordained by several retired bishops in Philadelphia.
The movie “The Philadelphia Eleven” will be shown this Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Towngate Theatre and Cinema. The 90-minute documentary details how these women went forward despite threats and the risk of rejection by the church they loved.

It’s a story of civil disobedience. And at this point of time, there was a lot of that going on. Think of civil rights. Think of women’s rights. So this is the story of how this was done in a very patriarchal setting.

The Rev. Nancy Woodworth-Hill, Lawrencefield Parish

This happened in July of 1974.

Nearly three years later, the church changed its rules, and women have been welcomed into the priesthood ever since.

A panel discussion and refreshments will follow the screening. It’s free and open to the public.

The Towngate Theatre is located at 2118 Market Street, Wheeling

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